Portfolio Allocation and International Risk Sharing

Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP8810

Authors: Gianluca Benigno; Hande Kk

Abstract: We show that recent explanations of the consumption-real exchange rate anomaly which rely on goods and financial market frictions are not robust to introducing just one additional international asset. When portfolios are selected optimally, international trade in two nominal bonds implies a consumption-real exchange rate correlation that is too high compared to the data even when there are many shocks. Monetary policy specification plays a potentially important role for the degree of risk sharing provided by nominal bonds, both in the benchmark model with only tradable and non-tradable sector supply shocks and also in the model which allows for news or quality (i-pod) shocks.

Keywords: Consumption-Real Exchange Rate Anomaly; Incomplete Financial Markets; International Risk Sharing; Portfolio Choice

JEL Codes: F31; F41


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
introduction of a second internationally traded bond (G15)correlation between relative consumption and real exchange rates (F31)
specification of monetary policy (E52)degree of risk sharing provided by nominal bonds (G12)
tradable and nontradable sector shocks (F16)relationship between relative consumption and real exchange rates (F31)

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